LIDO TOWERS FATE

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Peg Meerkatz
Nov 10, 2012

On Oct 29 I was FORCED to evacuate the condo I shared with my mom @ Lido Towers due to Hurracaine Sandy. We thought we were going to the lobby to wait out the storm then would be able to return. Instead an estimated 8 to 10 feet of water consumed the first floor where our unit was located. Mom & I are in a shelter with no ID, no money & very vague information about the fate of this historic building.

Last week we were told it was condemned then we were told it would be "a long time before we could return". Now we are told that if we sign a waiver we can go into the condo for 1 hour to retrieve belongings. The signing of the waiver is because the drywall is in danger of collapsing.

Still no one will tell us what the future of Lido Towers is - is the building condemned or not? Will we ever return? The building just underwent a multimillion dollar renovation & restoration of which my mom was assessed $150,000.

The building manager (when we can reach her) is very vague & not giving specifics. We called the management company - that was a joke. The man who answered was in FLORIDA & unaware the building sustained substantial damage he thanked US for letting him know.

If anyone has any info or knows where we can get this info PLEASE let me know. FEMA is NO HELP, they did their assessment from OUTSIDE since they were not permitted to enter our unit.

Anyone that can help?

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Comments (3)

Lido Towers Condemned
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Seena Amsel of Lido Beach
Nov 20, 2012

"Condemned" generally means hazardous and/or unsafe for occupancy or use when applied to a building. A building can be repaired or demolished depending on the circumstances to make it safe. Therefore, in addition to contacting your management company and building manager - call your coop board members. They should be on top of this situation.

Most often condemned properties can be repaired and then reinspected and people can move back as soon as safe for use and/or habitation.

The Towers apparently took a beating, but it does not mean people will necessarily loose their homes or investments. However if repairs are made it is possible in a condo or coop that further assessments to cover those costs can occur. The silver lining is one can return home to the beautiful towers.

I could not help but be moved by your plight. I am a newbie on this site, but if I were in your position, I would begin with calls to my elected officials. Tell them your mom is a senior citizen. This sort of problem is what politicians are made for. Begin with your Senate rep, the Democrat Bill Nelson

http://www.billnelson.senate.gov/contact/offices.cfm

And Marco Rubio:

http://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/

If you have the equivalent of New York City's City Council, call your rep there, and your state senator, Vern Buchanan:

http://www.buchanan.house.gov/

As an elected official of mine once said to me: "We love to get calls that give us something specific to do. It wins votes." Good luck.

Peg - Contact the insurance company who carries your unit-owner's policy. They may be able to advise you on what further steps you should take, and your policy may cover reimbursement for immediate out-of-pocket expenses.

Before you sign anything, especially anything that even remotely looks or smells like a waiver or release, have the documents reviewed by an attorney. You could be signing away important rights you will need later on if you have a claim against your condo corporation.

Better still, just consult an attorney. I cannot imagine the aggravation and frustration you and your mom are going through. You need an independent party to look after your interests in this because you have more important issues to take care of right now.

Good advice from Steve about contacting electeds. My family is in a similar displaced situation also in Nassau County and we have had remarkable success with both our insurance company and FEMA. Final inspections by both were this morning at 7 a.m. Have you started the ball rolling with FEMA? If not, do so TODAY.

Dianne - It was actually P.C. Semkey who recommended contacting Peg's elected officials. I just recommended contacting their insurance company. I used to live near Lido Beach and would go bikeriding on the Long Beach boardwalk. Even a small storm would displace sand a block or two from the boardwalk, so Sandy must have moved the entire beach inland.

Thanks, I realized my error after I hit post, but didn't want to post again. So, I gave you credit were it wasn't due, but you were gentlemanly enough to correct me. I, too, lived there, what a tragedy.